Do your resolutions for 2013 include getting pregnant? If so, we hope
that all goes smoothly and your path to conception is a short one.
Unfortunately, however, the current reality is that at least one in six
couples struggle with infertility, according to the World Health
Organization. The reproductive landscape has changed dramatically over
the years for a variety of reasons, including increased exposure to
environmental toxins and couples waiting longer in life to conceive.
While many of these couples are automatically put on the track toward
invasive and expensive infertility treatment, the fact is that
many
couples are able to conceive naturally, on their own, with the benefit
of natural fertility supplementation and ovulation prediction tools.
After all, it stands to reason that we would exhaust our natural
options before resorting to medical interventions that come at a cost,
both physically and financially.
Our environment impacts our fertility...
The food we eat, the products we use and even the air we breathe is
vastly different from what it was just 50 years ago, and unfortunately,
our prolonged exposure to these harmful chemicals has directly impacted
our fertility rates. One example: a study from the National Institute of
Health found that exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) may
decrease a couples’ fertility by as much as 29 percent. Another alarming
trend is the decline in male sperm count by roughly 2-3 percent each
year. According to a study in the British Medical Journal, average sperm
count has decreased by 50 percent since 1938.
The harmful toxins and harsh chemicals we are exposed to on a daily
basis build up in our tissues over time and negatively impact our
reproductive health. Our bodies work hard to remove these dangerous
compounds, but our natural detoxification systems are rarely able to
eliminate all of these toxins. Of course, the first line of defense
would be to avoid these harmful chemicals as much as possible by eating
non-processed (ideally organic) food, drinking filtered water and using
only non-toxic products in the home. In addition to making these healthy
lifestyle changes, couples may benefit from taking a detoxification
supplement specifically designed to help eliminate toxins in
trying-to-conceive men and women.
FertileDetox
is one natural detoxification supplement. Fairhaven Health's
FertileDetox is doctor-designed to help prepare the body for conception
by promoting the efficient elimination of environmental toxins.
Our age impacts our fertility...
With increased focus on education and career paths, women are waiting
longer in life to conceive their first child than they did just a few
decades ago. It's an undeniable fact that the older one gets, the more
difficult it is to conceive. What many couples fail to recognize,
however, is that this goes for men as well as women.
When men age, testosterone levels decrease, and consequently, so does
their fertility. While men are able to produce sperm throughout their
lives, the quality may deteriorate significantly over time. A study
published in the journal Fertility and Sterility showed significant
declines for men aged 30 to 50 in volume, motility (movement) and
morphology (shape). Fortunately there are a number of natural
supplements available with ingredients that are scientifically validated
to improve sperm parameters.
FertilAid for Men
is one such fertility supplement which was shown in a double-blind
placebo controlled study to increase the total number of motile sperm a
man produces.
It’s no secret women are born with a finite number of eggs, the number
and quality of which deteriorate over time. But, it is actually the
decline in egg quality that impacts a woman’s ability to conceive more
than the number of eggs left in her reserve. As egg quality diminishes,
it becomes more difficult for sperm to complete fertilization,
implantation is less likely to be successful and miscarriages are more
common. While there is nothing a woman can do to increase her ovarian
reserve, it is possible to improve her egg quality. Ingredients such as
myo-inositol, folic acid, and melatonin have been clinically
demonstrated to do just that.
OvaBoost
is a natural, doctor-developed supplement designed to promote egg
quality and ovarian function. It includes myo-inositol, folic acid, and
melatonin (along with several other ingredients beneficial for egg
quality), and is especially recommended for women over 30 and those who
have been diagnosed with PCOS or have been told that their egg quality
is poor.
But we were told IVF was our only option...
While assisted reproductive technologies (IVF for example) may be
necessary for some couples to conceive, far too many couples are being
led down this arduous path prematurely.
“Many couples struggling to conceive may be able to do so naturally
before resorting to costly and stressful procedures such as IVF or IUI,”
said Dr. Amos Grunebaum, an OB/GYN and the director of obstetrics for
one of the country’s top university medical centers. Dr. Grunebaum is a
strong proponent of fertility education and suggests all couples follow
some simple steps before resorting to expensive and invasive treatment
options.
1.
Pinpoint the fertile window: A woman can only get pregnant
during the 4-5 days leading up to, and including the day of ovulation.
Identifying this ‘fertile window’ is key to improving conception odds. A
variety of tools and methods are available to help predict the
ovulation date including
basal body temperature charting,
ovulation predictor kits, and electronic
fertility monitors.
2.
Restore hormonal balance: Many women struggling to conceive
have irregular cycles, which can make it particularly challenging to
achieve pregnancy. Cycle irregularity is most often the result of a
hormonal imbalance that can impact the frequency of ovulation and/or
menstruation. Before resorting to prescription medications (along with
their attendant side effects), you might explore some proven natural
methods of restoring hormonal balance such as the herb chasteberry
(vitex agnus-castus), which has been shown to help promote cycle
regularity. Vitex can be purchased separately at your local health food
store or as part of a comprehensive fertility supplement such as
FertilAid for Women.
3.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle: Transform your diet and stay
away from junk food and incorporate more vegetables, fruits, whole
grains and lean sources of protein (all shown to help improve
reproductive health). Exercise regularly and shed those extra pounds.
Optimal Body Mass Index (BMI) is between 18.5 and 25, anything above
that may decrease your conception odds and increase potential pregnancy
complications. Quit those bad habits such as smoking or drinking alcohol
which can negatively impact fertility and work towards creating a
stress free environment as chronic stress can suppress reproductive
hormones.
About Fairhaven Health
Fairhaven Health is a leading provider of natural, doctor-designed
products to promote fertility, pregnancy, and nursing health. They offer
ovulation prediction tools,
natural fertility supplements,
prenatal vitamins and
breastfeeding support products, all of which are manufactured in U.S. GMP-certified and FDA regulated facilities.
Disclaimer: This information was provided courtesy of Fairhaven Health.
